U.S. patent number 4,632,088 [Application Number 06/470,430] was granted by the patent office on 1986-12-30 for ball throwing apparatus.
Invention is credited to Norman R. Bruce.
United States Patent |
4,632,088 |
Bruce |
December 30, 1986 |
Ball throwing apparatus
Abstract
A ball throwing apparatus has two opposed drive wheels, one on
each side of an open-ended barrel. The peripheries of both drive
wheels extend into the barrel in opposing fashion, the wheels being
slightly offset so that the second periphery frictionally engages
the ball before the first periphery does. This directs the ball
initially on a path divergent from the barrel axis. The drive
wheels are rotated at dissimilar speeds and/or the diameters of the
wheels are not the same so that the peripheral speeds of the two
drive wheels are different. This imparts a spin to the ball and
gives it a curved flight path. The barrel is rotatably mounted to
allow the barrel to be rotated about its longitudinal axis to any
angular position. The barrel mounting is attached to a tripod, and
the mounting can be adjusted to alter the attitude of the barrel to
change the trajectory of the ball.
Inventors: |
Bruce; Norman R. (Central
Point, OR) |
Family
ID: |
23867614 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/470,430 |
Filed: |
February 28, 1983 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
124/78;
124/6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
69/406 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63B
69/40 (20060101); F41B 015/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;124/78,83,41R,81,6
;273/26D,55R |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
"Collegiate Baseball", vol. XXIII, No. 14, Oct. 24, 1980,
photocopies of the following pages are attached hereto:
13,27,35,36..
|
Primary Examiner: Apley; Richard J.
Assistant Examiner: Welsh; John L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Jessup; Warren T.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Ball throwing apparatus comprising:
a standard;
barrel means having a feed end and a delivery end for aiming a
ball;
means for rotatably mounting said barrel means on said standard for
rotatable adjustment about the longitudinal axis of said barrel
means;
means for propelling the ball comprising:
first and second drive wheels rotatably mounted on opposite sides
of said barrel means, positioned substantially in a common plane
substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of said barrel
means, and having respective peripheries for frictionally engaging
a ball fed into said feed end;
drive means for rotating said wheels for propelling the ball out of
said delivery end;
means for mounting said first wheel farther from said feed end than
said second wheel, whereby the ball is ejected from said barrel
means on a path diverging angularly from said longitudinal axis of
said barrel means.
2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein:
said drive means comprises a respective pair of motors, one for
each wheel, having output shafts to which the respective wheels are
mounted;
said shafts being substantially parallel and lying generally in a
plane offset slightly from a perpendicular to the said longitudinal
axis of said barrel means.
3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein:
said barrel means at its delivery end has a cross sectional area
appreciably greater than that of the ball which is to be propelled
from said barrel means.
4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, including:
a barrel insert positioned within the feed end of said barrel
means, for guiding a ball into engagement with said wheels.
5. Ball throwing apparatus comprising;
barrel means having a feed end and a delivery end for aiming a
ball;
first drive wheel means having a wheel, the periphery thereof
positioned to frictionally engage a ball fed into said barrel
means;
second drive wheel means having a wheel, the periphery thereof
positioned to frictionally engage a ball fed into said barrel
means, said barrel means extending between both said drive wheel
means;
said wheel of said second drive wheel means offset with respect to
said wheel of said first drive wheel means along the longitudinal
axis between said feed end and said delivery end of said barrel
means;
the peripheral speed of said wheel of said second drive wheel means
being greater than that of said wheel of said first drive wheel
means;
said wheel of said second drive wheel means being spaced rearwardly
of said first wheel means with respect to the delivery end of said
barrel means;
said first and said second drive wheel means having arcuate slot
means for adjusting their positions with respect to each other,
along the longitudinal axis between said feed end and said delivery
end of said barrel means;
6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 including:
a standard having crutch means for demountably holding said barrel
means;
said barrel means being seated in said crutch means and rotatable
therein about the longitudinal axis between said feed end and said
delivery end of said barrel means.
7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein:
said standard includes a U-shaped yoke, at the upper ends of which
are mounted said respective crutches, which receive said barrel
means.
8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 including:
frame means projecting outwardly of said barrel means on opposite
sides thereof for housing said first and second wheels of said
first and second drive wheel means;
said first and second drive wheel means each including a motor
having an output shaft oriented with its longitudinal axis
transverse to the longitudinal axis between said feed end and said
delivery end of said barrel means, and said drive wheel mounted on
said shaft, having its periphery positioned to engage a ball in
said barrel means.
9. Ball throwing apparatus comprising;
barrel means having a feed end and a delivery end for aiming a
ball;
first drive wheel means having a wheel, the periphery thereof
positioned to frictionally engage a ball fed into said barrel
means;
second drive wheel means having a wheel, the periphery thereof
positioned to frictionally engage a ball fed into said barrel
means, said barrel means extending between both said drive wheel
means;
said wheel of said second drive wheel means being offset with
respect to said wheel of said first drive wheel means along the
longitudinal axis between said feed end and said delivery end of
said barrel means;
a standard having a crutch means for demountably holding said
barrel means;
said barrel means being seated in said crutch means and rotatable
therein about the longitudinal axis between said feed end and said
delivery end of said barrel means;
said standard including: a U-shaped yoke, at the upper ends of
which are mounted said respective crutch means, which receive said
barrel means; and
mounting legs, at the upper end of which said yoke is mounted.
10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 including:
mounting means between said yoke and said legs for permitting
adjustable angular adjustment of said yoke about a horizontal axis
perpendicular to the plane of said yoke.
11. Ball throwing apparatus comprising;
barrel means having a feed end and a delivery end for aiming a
ball;
first drive wheel having a wheel, the periphery thereof positioned
to frictionally engage a ball fed into said barrel means;
second drive wheel means having a wheel, the periphery thereof
positioned to frictionally engage a ball fed into said barrel
means, said barrel means extending between both said drive wheel
means;
said wheel of said second drive wheel means being offset with
respect to said wheel of said first drive wheel means along the
longitudinal axis between said feed end and said delivery end of
said barrel means;
frame means projecting outwardingly of said barrel means on
opposite sides thereof for housing said first and second wheels of
said first and second drive wheel means;
said first and second drive wheel means each including a motor
having an output shaft oriented with its longitudinal axis
transverse to the longitudinal axis between said feed end and said
delivery end of said barrel means, and each said drive wheel being
mounted on said shaft, and having its periphery positioned to
engage a ball in said barrel means;
means for adjustably mounted each said first and second drive wheel
means on said frame means, for adjustment with respect to the
longitudinal axis of said barrel means.
12. Ball throwing apparatus comprising:
elongate barrel means having a feed end and a delivery end for
aiming a substantially spherical ball;
means for propelling the ball comprising:
first and second drive wheels rotatably mounted on opposite sides
of said barrel means, and having respective peripheries for
frictionally engaging a ball fed into said feed end;
drive means for rotating said wheels for propelling the ball from
said delivery end;
the peripheral speed of said second wheel being greater than that
of said first wheel, whereby a spin is imparted to the ball;
means for mounting said first wheel farther from said feed end than
said second wheel, whereby ball is ejected from said barrel means
on a path diverging angularly from said longitudinal axis of said
barrel means;
the spin of the ball, coupled with the diverging ejection path,
serving to cause the ball to first diverge from, and then converge
and cross, the said longitudinal axis of said barrel means at a
selected point distant from the apparatus.
13. Apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein said barrel means
is mounted for rotatable adjustment about said longitudinal
axis.
14. Apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein the mounting for
said barrel comprises a pair of generally U-shaped crutches lying
generally in parallel planes spaced along an axis;
said barrel being cradled in said crutches;
said drive wheels being located between said crutches;
said barrel means being rotatably adjustable in said crutches about
said axis.
15. Ball throwing apparatus comprising:
a base;
a U-shaped yoke having its bight portion mounted at the upper
portion of said base, with the arms of the U extending upwardly
from said base;
a pair of generally shaped U-shaped crutches lying substantially in
parallel planes transverse to and spaced along a mounting axis, one
each mounted to the respective upper ends of said arms;
a barrel, the longitudinal axis of which lies substantially on said
mounting axis, cradled in and between said crutches and having
ball-propelling means located between said crutches for propelling
a ball from the barrel;
said barrel being rotatably adjustable in said crutches about said
axis; and
being cradled in said crutches free of other restraints, whereby
said barrel may be freely lifted out of said crutches; and
means for propelling a ball from said barrel.
16. Apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said crutches are
generally semi cylindrical; and have a common axis substantially
coincident with said mounting axis.
17. Apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said crutches are
lined internally with a friction inducing lining for holding said
barrel frictionally in any rotative position of said barrel.
18. Apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said base
comprises a plurality of legs converging and secured together at
their upper ends, and to said bight position;
said barrel being positioned substantially directly above the said
upper ends of said legs.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Dual opposed drive wheels which frictionally engage a ball and
propel it through a barrel and towards a batter is disclosed in the
prior art ball throwing devices.
One machine discloses a housing enclosing a barrel for the ball,
directly opposed drive wheels partially projecting inside the
barrel, and drive means for rotating the wheels. Either drive wheel
can have a band attached to its circumference. These bands create
an uneven surface so that when the wheels grab the ball coming
through the barrel, the uneven surface spins the ball about its
axis and also imparts a unique trajectory to the ball as it leaves
the muzzle end of the barrel. The spin imparted to the ball is
important to the batter, because it tends to duplicate the types of
balls normally thrown by a pitcher in a baseball game. The pitcher
gives "English" to the ball by holding it in a certain way and by
tossing it with a particular flick of the wrist, resulting in the
commonly designated style pitches such as a curve ball, slider,
drop ball, fast ball and the like. Some of these other prior art
devices simply lob the ball by pneumatic means without imparting
any kind of spin characteristics.
Other prior art devices have directly opposed but separated drive
wheels and the ball is fed from a chute into the nip of the wheels.
The circumference of the wheels are concave in shape to aid in
gripping the ball since there is no barrel to contain the ball. The
RPM of either wheel can be adjusted to impart a spin to the axis of
the ball. The drive wheels and housing can be tilted to change the
trajectory of the ball, or the curve thrown by the ball can be
adjusted by radially moving the housing to the left or right in a
plane parallel with the ground.
The drawbacks found in these prior art devices is that the device
must be realigned each time the batter wishes a different type of
pitch be thrown, and the devices must first be adjusted before the
device can throw a different type of pitch. Whenever bands are
attached to the circumference of the drive wheels, a random but
inaccurately thrown pitch results. In order for these devices to be
of optimal use in batting practice, the ball must be consistently
thrown into the strike zone of the batter. In batting practice, the
prior art machines must be reset to place the ball in the strike
zone each time the type of pitch is changed. This is time consuming
and does not duplicate real playing conditions in a game where the
pitcher randomly varies the type of pitch thrown. The time delay
for adjustment precludes throwing varying pitches one after the
other in quick succession, as in a ball game. It is so time
consuming to change pitches that usually no changes are made during
a given practice, which may last two hours. One or two changes
would be the maximum that would be feasible.
No prior art machine, known to applicant, nas the capacity to tail
fast balls in our out, on successive pitches, if at all. This
shortcoming is a serious one.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a ball throwing apparatus which is
economical to manufacture, easy to assemble for use, is
lightweight, and consistently pitches the ball in the strike zone
of the batter without the necessity of laborious resetting the
apparatus every time the operator wishes to change the type of
pitch generated by the apparatus.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a ball
throwing apparatus for randomly pitching a variety of balls such as
a left-hand curve, right-hand curve, slider, fast ball or the like
and can be consistently pitched into the strike zone of the batter
without the need for laborious readjustment every time a different
type of pitch is desired, once the barrel of the apparatus is
initially adjusted for distance.
A further object of this invention is to provide a means for
randomly varying the type of pitches thrown by the machine, for
duplicating the actual playing conditions in a baseball game where
the pitcher randomly throws different types of pitches depending on
what he deems will work best against a particular batter. This
ability to quickly change the type of pitch thrown without
resetting the machine, duplicate actual playing conditions and is
an aid in training the ball player.
Still, a further object of this invention is to provide a pitching
barrel which can be rotated 360.degree. about its axis, on a
mounting providing for a wide variety of pitches thrown and yet
still able to deliver the pitched ball into the strike zone of the
batter without the necessity of recalibrating the apparatus each
time a different type of pitch is thrown.
Still, a further object of this invention is to provide an
apparatus which can be adjusted to change the spin on the ball and
the type of curve thrown by the machine. The pitch can be adjusted
to curve in any direction through a full 360.degree. around the
axis of the projecting barrel.
Still, a further object of this invention is to provide inserts in
the barrel for allowing different types of balls to be pitched such
as tennis balls, ping pong balls, or the like.
Another object of this invention is to provide a ball throwing
apparatus which will randomly throw a variety of pitches. This can
be accomplished by randomly rotating the barrel on the barrel mount
between pitches without any interruptions being required to reset
the angle of the trajectory, since this apparatus can pitch the
ball into the strike zone of the batter; any type of pitch thrown
will still be trajected into the strike zone of the batter.
This invention has exceptional portability--effected in part by the
ease in which the major sub-assembly can be separated and
re-positioned, all without any tools.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a front elevational view of the ball pitching machine
mounted on a tripod and having a barrel resting on a crutch. The
arrowed and hatched circular line indicates that the barrel is
infinitely rotatable on the crutch. This allows the ball to be
pitched in a particular manner, responsive to the angular position
of the barrel and drive wheels.
FIG. 2 shows a side elevational view taken on line 2--2 in FIG. 1,
indicating that the elevation angle of the ball leaving the barrel
can be adjusted by tilting back or forth the yoke upon the tripod
and mount. The ball is fed into the barrel from the right and exits
out the left delivery end.
FIG. 3 is a top plan view taken on line 3--3 in FIG. 2 of the
apparatus indicating that the ball is fed into the right end and is
ejected out the left hand side of the barrel. There are slots
showing that both of the drive wheels can be adjusted independently
by slideable movement longitudinally adjacent to the axis of the
barrel.
FIG. 3A is a modified view of FIG. 3, showing the offset
positioning of the drive wheels. The path of the ball is indicated
by the arrowed line. The ball is inserted into the feed end of the
barrel, and as it passes between the two drive wheels, the ball is
deflected to the right because of the spacing of the drive wheels
and the differential speed of the drive wheels. In this particular
example, the ball has been imparted a counter clock-wise rotation
which will result in a horizontally curved ball.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the joint (circled at 4 in FIG. 1)
between the yoke and the tripod mount as indicated in FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the ball pitching device indicating
how the ball is fed into and ejected from the apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 5 discloses a perspective view
of the ball throwing apparatus. It is rotatively resting on the
support base or standard and is generally indicated by number 2 in
the drawing. The standard is further sub-divided into a mount
indicated at 19 and mounting legs 20, 21, and 22. The mount 19
secures the bight portion of a U shaped yoke support 18 which has
mounted at both ends upright crutches. The rear crutch is indicated
as number 24. The front crutch 15 is disclosed in the other
figures.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the connection generally designated
as 3, wherein the U shaped yoke 18 is attached to the mount 19.
FIG. 4 will be described in greater detail in a later paragraph.
For the moment, however, the purpose of this type of mount is to
allow the yoke 18 to be adjusted by tilting the yoke rearward or
forward to increase the trajectory of the ball to shoot it a
greater distance or to tilt the U shaped yoke forward to decrease
the toss of the ball. This connection is adjustable to permit the
angular adjustment of the yoke 18 about the horizontal axis
perpendicular to the plane of the yoke 18. This adjusts the
elevation of the pitch.
The crutches 24 and 15 (FIGS. 1 and 5) allow for support and
resting of a barrel means 10 having a feed end and a delivery end
for guiding and aiming the balls which are projected from the
barrel 10. The distance between the two crutches 15 and 24 is less
than the length of the barrel 10. The rounded cut-outs 41 and 42
removed from each crutch 24 and 15, are of a generally
semi-circular shape which mates with the circumference of the
barrel 10. That is, the semi-circular shape of each cut-out matches
the circumference of the barrel 10. Attached to each crutch cut-out
41 and 42, is a friction pad indicated at 25 and 16, respectively,
which creates a drag on the rotatability of the barrel 10. The pad
creates enough friction so that the barrel 10 can be rotated
manually, but will stay in any angular position the operator of the
machine wishes to leave it in. There is a thrust ring 23 which
encircles the rear of the barrel 10 inward from the crutch 24. The
purpose of this thrust ring 23 is to stop the recoil which may
result when the ball 4 is ejected out of the delivery or muzzle end
of the barrel 10. The barrel 10 has a frame 6 which has generally
wing-like extensions extending from both sides of the barrel 10. In
one side of the frame 6 is attached a first drive wheel means
described as the first drive wheel 12 and the first motor 11. On
the opposite side of the first wheel 12 is the second drive means
described as the second drive wheel 14 and the second motor 13. The
second drive wheel 14 rotates in a direction towards the delivery
end of the barrel 10. Likewise, the first drive wheel 12 also
rotates in the direction towards the muzzle of the barrel 10.
Because they rotate towards the delivery end of the barrel 10, each
wheel 14, 12 rotates in the opposite direction compared with the
other. The second drive wheel 14 is offset longitudinally of the
longitudinal axis of the barrel with respect to the drive wheel 12.
The second drive wheel 14 is positioned rearward towards the barrel
insert end and the first drive wheel 12 is positioned towards the
barrel delivery end. The second drive wheel 14 has a faster
peripheral speed than the first drive wheel 12. The importance of
this speed differential will be discussed more fully when the other
views are discussed. The ball 4 when being fed into the feed end of
the barrel 10 is somewhat sucked in as a result of the venturi
effect from the two drive wheels spinning toward the delivery end
of the barrel 10. As the ball passes through the barrel, it is
frictionally engaged and accelerated first by the second wheel 14
and secondly by the first drive wheel 12. This causes the ball to
spin on its axis. The ball will generally always have this type of
a spin and trajectory beginning regardless wherever the frame 6 is
positioned and the barrel 10 is generally rotated. A barrel insert
17 allows for the feeding of various diameter balls into the barrel
and can also act as a chute to allow a ball to be properly fed into
the nip between the first drive wheel 12 and the second drive wheel
14.
FIG. 3A is taken along the lines C--C, FIG. 2. There is shown in
FIG. 3A the top plan view showing generally the first wheel means
11/12, second wheel means 13/14, barrel means 10 which includes the
barrel insert 17 and thrust washer 23. The frame means is generally
indicated by number 6. This frame means is attached to the barrel
means 10 and further houses the first wheel means 12 and second
wheel means 14. FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 3A, with the added
disclosure that the first wheel means 12 and the second wheel means
14 can be slideably mounted on the frame 6 in a direction
longitudinal with respect to the longitudinal axis of the barrel
10.
In FIG. 3A, the second drive wheel 14 is shown in its most rearward
slideable positon. It is contemplated that the first drive wheel 12
and the second drive wheel 14 could be directly opposed in the
barrel 10 and having no offset relative to which wheel is closer to
the delivery end 9 of the barrel 10.
FIG. 3A discloses the path the ball will travel as it is propelled
the length of the barrel 10. The feed end 50 of the barrel 10
indicates where the operator of the machine initially inserts the
ball 4. Since the first drive wheel 12 and second drive wheel 14
are rotating as indicated, there is a slight venturi suction
created at the feed end 50 which assists in introducing the ball
into the barrel 10. The barrel insert 17 has an outside diameter
substantially equaling that of the inside diameter of the barrel
10. This is a replaceable and detachable insert which allows for
various interior diameters in the insert for acting as a guide for
balls of smaller diameter than that disclosed in FIGS. 3 and 3A. A
curved slot 60 is cut away from the side of the barrel 10 for
allowing the periphery 62 of the second drive wheel 14 to enter
into the interior of the barrel 10. Another slot 68 is in phantom
lines indicating that the slot for the first wheel 12 is also cut
away from the under side of the barrel 10 for allowing the
periphery 70 of the first wheel 12 to enter the interior of the
barrel 10. The slot 68 is shown in phantom lines since this is a
top plan view and the slot 68 is not visible from this side. The
periphery 62 of the second drive wheel 14 and the periphery 70 of
the first drive wheel 12 have surfaces which have somewhat of a
rough surface in order to frictionally engage the ball 4 as it
passes through the feed end 50 of the barrel 10 and out the
delivery end 9 of the barrel 10.
In the operation, the ball is fed into the feed end 50 and it is
sucked in by the venturi effect of the rotating drive wheels 14 and
12. For the purpose of illustration in figure 3A, it shall be
presumed that the second wheel 14 is closer to the feed end 50 of
the barrel 10. The ball is inserted and it firstly engages the
periphery 62 of the second wheel 14. This causes a spin to be
imparted to the ball and the ball then frictionally engages the
periphery 70 of the first. drive wheel 12. As a result of the
interaction of the two opposite drive wheels 12 and 14, the ball
has a spin imparted to it in a counter-clockwise direction. Both
peripheries 62, 70 propel the ball down the barrel. Further, it is
the beginning of a trajectory of the ball which is indicated by the
line showing that a curved pitch is being generated. In practice,
with the frame being horizontal relative to the ground, the type of
pitch which would be created in this position of the frame 6 would
be considered to be a left breaking horizontal curve.
As shown in FIG. 3A, the inner diameter of the barrel 10 is
appreciably greater than the diameter of the ball being propelled
from the barrel. This fact, that the cross sectional area of the
barrel 10 (FIG. 1) is appreciably greater than that of the ball,
permits the ball to be propelled from the delivery end of the
barrel on the trajectory which diverges angularly from the
longitudinal axis of the barrel 10.
At the feed end, the insert 17 (FIG. 2) encompasses the ball more
closely, and guides it into proper engagement with the drive wheels
12 and 14.
FIG. 3 shows the variable slots 72 for both drive means 12 and 14
to indicate that the periphery could be adjusted by the sliding
movements longitudinally relative to the longitudinal axis of the
barrel 10. The purpose of this adjustment ability would be to
modify the spin characteristics of the ball and to alter the
trajectory of the ball as it is shot out the delivery end 9 of the
barrel 10. FIG. 3A also presumes that the periphery 62 is going at
faster speed than the periphery 70. The speed differential can be
accomplished by either a different shaft rotational velocity or by
having a larger diameter second wheel 14 compared to the first
wheel 12, which would inherently give a faster peripheral. speed of
62, assuming that both drive means are rotating at the same rpm.
This peripheral speed differential could also be accomplished by
increasing the rpm of the drive motor 12 relative to drive motor 11
or alternatively decreasing the rpm of the drive motor 11 compared
to the rpm of the second drive motor 13. The slots 72 are slightly
arcuate in order to maintain a substantially constant nip between
the two wheels 12 and 14, as the drivers are adjusted.
FIG. 2 is a side elevaticnal view showing the barrel 10 in a
horizontal position relative to the ground. FIG. 2 shows that the
yoke 18 can be tilted forward or backward. The tilting of the yoke
alters the distance and the trajectory path that the ball travels
after it leaves the delivery end 9 of the barrel 10. There are
disclosed adjustment stops 32 and 33 at the top of the mount 19
which can be adjusted to keep the yoke 18 in one particular tilted
positon but they are adjustable to permit angular adjustment of the
yoke 18 about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the plane of the
yoke. In other word, the yoke can be tilted, forward or backward.
There is shown in FIG. 2 the front crutch 15 and the rear crutch 24
which are attached to the yoke 18 in an upright position. The
barrel means 10 is shown resting on these respective crutches.
There is shown the barrel slot 68 where the first drive wheel 12
enters the interior of the barrel 10. The one edge of the frame 6
is also disclosed. The barrel insert 17 further shows that there is
a cutaway portion 72 to also allow for part of the periphery of the
various drive wheels to turn freely.
Now referring to FIG. 1, which is a front elevational view of the
ball throwing apparatus, the front upright crutch 15 is disclosed
with the semi-circular pad or cutaway 42. The friction pad at 16 is
also disclosed. In the solid lines there is indicated that the
first drive wheel 12 is in the horizontal plane and the second
drive wheel is at 14. In this configuration the ball when ejected,
will make a left horizontal curve. In the hatched lines, indicating
a vertical orientation of the frame 6, the ball will still interact
first with the periphery 62 of the second wheel 14 and then with
the periphery 70 of the first drive wheel 12. The vertical
orientation is accomplished by rotating the frame 6 90.degree. so
that the drive wheel 12 is in the upper vertical array, drive wheel
14 is in the lower vertical position. In this orientation, the ball
will come out with a reverse spin and would be like a speed ball
having a slight angular rise relative to the ground. As the frame 6
is rotated counter clockwise 90.degree. again, so that the drive
wheel number 12 is in the left horizontal array and the drive wheel
14 is in the right horizontal array, one will have the same
characteristics as if the drive wheel 14 was in the left horizontal
array and the drive wheel 12 was in the right horizontal array, the
difference being that the ball will throw a horizontal right curve
ball. Rotating the frame 6, counter-clockwise 90.degree., so that
again the drive wheel 12 is in the lower vertical array and the
drive wheel 14 in the upper vertical array will produce a ball with
overspin thus creating a slider or dropping ball relative to the
batter. All of these rotational configurations of the frame 6 are
for the purposes of imparting a particular spin and trajectory on
the thrown ball. Regardless of where the angular rotation of the
frame 6 is inclined, the ball will still penetrate the same general
strike zone when the batter is standing over a fixed home plate.
The ease of this invention is that one simply sets up the standard
2 by screwing on the tripod legs 20, 21, and 22 into tripod 19,
placing the tripod erect with the yoke 18 preattached, and then
placing the barrel means 10 onto the crutches of the yoke; and then
tilting the yoke to find the proper distance to hit the desired
strike zone. After the proper tilt of the yoke has been established
by adjustment, it may be tightened so that this adjustment will not
vary. The tripod leg 21 is in alignment with the trajectory of the
ball so that any recoil as a result of the ball being shot out will
be absorbed by this particular tripod leg. Furthermore the
positioning of the drive means 12 and 14 in spatial relation to the
axis of the barrel 10, creates a center of gravity at the center of
the barrel 10 and generally the center of the gravity is toward the
tripod head 19. The detachable feature of the barrel 10 and of the
various components of the apparatus allows it to be rapidly
erected, mounted, adjusted for the distance to the home plate and
strike area and the machine is then ready for use. The barrel means
10 can be rotated on its respective crutches 42 and 24 to any angle
it chooses from 0.degree. through 360.degree. thus allowing an
infinite variety of pitch, each of which will still be within the
strike zone of the batter. The balancing of the components and the
rearward tripod leg 21 prevents the machine from "stepping" when
its on a hard surface such as a gym floor and accordingly this
avoids the problem of realigning the flight path of the ball
frequently.
FIG. 4 shows a close-up view of an attachment means designated as
3. There is a bolt 29 between the two mounts holding the yoke 18.
The clamping blocks 26 and 27 secure the yoke 18 firmly. The
friction washers 28 and 30 keep the yoke in its proper attitude or
tilt after it has been adjusted. Nut 31 is a tightening
feature.
Screw 32 and 33 are adjustable limit stops for limiting the tilting
or rocking of the yoke 18, in setting the desired elevation of the
pitch.
Whereas the present invention has been shown and described herein
in what is conceived to be the best mode contemplate, it is
recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope
of the invention which is therefore not to be limited to the
details disclosed herein but is to be afforded the full scope of
the invention.
* * * * *